The Impact of Air Pollution on Infertility and Pregnancy Complications

Air pollution, a growing global concern, is not only a major contributor to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, but it also has profound effects on reproductive health. Emerging research has revealed a disturbing link between exposure to polluted air and increased infertility rates, as well as complications during pregnancy. Today in this blog, we discuss its harmful effects on pregnant women and how it causes infertility.

Air Pollution and Infertility

The effects of air pollution on fertility are alarming, with studies suggesting that exposure to harmful air pollutants can reduce both male and female reproductive capabilities. Pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) are known to disrupt hormonal balance, impair ovarian function, and negatively impact sperm quality.

For women, prolonged exposure to air pollution can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, ovulatory dysfunction, and increased risk of conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), all of which can hinder fertility. Pollutants can also cause

Diabetes, Infertility, and Beyond: Navigating Precautions for a Healthy Pregnancy Journey

World diabetes day is observed every year on 14 November. Today let's talk in depth about how diabetes is affecting your fertility and creates difficulties in pregnancy. Diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, can have a profound impact on reproductive health and can create challenges during pregnancy. The relationship between diabetes and infertility is complex and multifaceted, involving various physiological and hormonal factors.

One of the primary ways in which diabetes can affect fertility is by disrupting the delicate hormonal balance necessary for reproductive function. In women, diabetes can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and anovulation (lack of ovulation), making it more difficult to conceive. Additionally, elevated levels of glucose in the bloodstream can adversely affect the quality of eggs and increase the risk of miscarriage.

For men with diabetes, there is evidence to suggest that the condition can contribute to impaired sperm function. Elevated blood sugar levels may lead to oxidative stress and inflammation, which can damage sperm DNA and reduce sperm motility. These factors can decrease the likelihood of

Do you want to know the tips and tricks how you can plan your pregnancy at the age of 40?

In today’s time women are more career oriented and looks towards financial stability first in their life. And not only women, men are also in no hurry to start a family any time soon; career has taken the front seat; hence given the rise to DINK couples(double income and no kids). As a result more women are getting married around 30-35 years of age or even later. Due to this, the mean age at first pregnancy is also slowly rising, with many women approaching Fertility Clinics for the first time at the age of 40 years for help in conceiving.

Delaying pregnancy sometimes leads to miscarriage or even infertility. With increasing age in females, the ovarian reserve or the number of eggs that a lady has, reduces drastically translating into decreased chances of natural pregnancy. Moreover there is a rapid decline in quality of eggs too due to which the chances of miscarriages also may increase. Research has shown that a 40 year old female seeking fertility has only 25 % chance of pregnancy with own eggs and it decreases to 1.6% at age of 44. If she conceives, the risk of miscarriage is around 25% at 40 years and around 50% at 44 years.

At the age of 40 and above, the incidence of medical problems like Diabetes Mellitus, High Blood Pressure is more. These may get aggravated during the course of a pregnancy. If a lady gets pregnant with her own eggs at the age of 40, the chances of having genetic problems is more. This risk can be reduced by opting for donor eggs as these eggs are of a much younger lady. 

What are the Tips and Tricks to get pregnant at the age of 40?

1. Do not wait too long for natural conception: Several studies have shown that the chances of conceiving naturally is as low as 5-10 %the age of 40. This can be attributed to the diminished quality of eggs at this age.

2.Approach a Fertility Consultant for guidance: You should visit a best fertility consultant to understand the challenges of child bearing at this age,

Planning a pregnancy in your 30’s, then do these things

With women planning pregnancy later than before, there are often fertility challenges to be faced due to the biological cycle getting disturbed. At some point of time every man and woman thinks of extending their family which means they want to settle down and have kids. But in today’s fast paced life one’s lifestyle plays a pivotal role in fertility. Make sure you follow these steps if planning your pregnancy in your 30’s: 

1. Workout an important and mandatory part of your routine Devote at least 45minutes of your everyday schedule in exercising and keeping yourself and the baby fit. Exercise really sustains and controls the excessive weight you put on during pregnancy, while keeping a check on your Body Mass Index (BMI). Workouts also keep the baby

Irregular periods Vs IVF Treatment

If you are having irregular periods for a while then please do not ignore it. Today, in this blog I am gonna right whether irregular periods hamper your IVF treatment or not and what you need to know about what are irregular periods. Menstrual cycle normally ranges from 21 days to 35 days. Some people get periods after 21 days and some after every 35 days, which is considered normal. 

However, if you are getting periods beyond that time frame or if the gap between periods is more than two weeks, it is known as irregular. 

Also, if menstrual cycle is shorter than that (get after 15 days) or longer than that (after 40 days, 50 days), it means your periods are irregular.

This could mean two things either you have PCOS or few eggs are left inside your body. Also, if you get a period after a gap of 40 days between periods, it does not necessarily indicate PCOS.  It could also mean that you are approaching menopause. So, it is important to know

Tobacco - a threat in reproduction

By Dr. Shobha Gupta  

Tobacco use has been considered controversial for long although scientific evidence regarding its health hazards.  

At present, nearly 0.9 million tobacco-related deaths occur in India annually as compared to 5.5 million worldwide which is expected to increase to about 10 million during 2020s. The report also revealed that 8 to 10 lakh persons die of tobacco related diseases every year and this reflects a higher mortality than the combined deaths resulting from other major diseases, such as tuberculosis, HIV AIDS and malaria. 

Many of us are aware about the diseases that caused by consumption of tobacco which is mainly cancer of oral cavity, larynx, oesophagus, urinary bladder, kidney, stomach, pancreas, cervix. But several research studies have also identified smoking or consuming tobacco in any form adds multiple risk factors of infertility especially in men; risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures and early age wrinkles also. 

Tobacco usage in any form like cigarette smoking, hookah, consuming bidi etc can harm you in many ways. Let’s have a look how: 

Unable to reproduce if you are a tobacco lover: 

The Statesman

Male fertility which means that you are unable to make your wife pregnant is affected by a variety of lifestyle habits that include tobacco use. A large population of Indian men is addicted to tobacco chewing. Tobacco chewing is strongly associated with a decrease in sperm quality and to a lesser extent with oligoasthenozoospermia or azoospermia. 

The relationship between tobacco use and male fertility has always been controversial but yes indeed; tobacco use is a potential detrimental factor for decrease in sperm count in men. Smoking can decrease sperm count in men, making the

Tips for pregnant women this Holi

The Hindu

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

Earlier colors was made up of herbs and flowers but as time passes chemicals, dyes have replaced this tradition and now a day’s people play holi with chemically treated colors. Some colors are even carcinogenic. So, it is very important for a pregnant or lactating mother to simply stay away from colors. 

Not only colors; bhang is also the one such tradition associated with holi. Rang and bhang are the two things which completes the festival. But bhang’s overdose can lead to serious health complications. Bhang is an intoxicant which makes you feel drowsy and sleepy. Consumption of bhang can result in high bp, increased heart rate, it can also affect foetus, nervous system and brain. It is very important for a pregnant woman not to play holi at all; stay indoors or even if you want to step out then go with your trusted elders around. 

Also as we know that these days holi colors are made up of chemicals. Some colors are even carcinogenic. So, lactating mothers should practice same caution as pregnant women. Use of these colors where lead is present by a pregnant woman may result in pre mature birth, low weight birth and miscarriage or abortion. It can also affect the nervous and reproductive system Pregnant women have reduced immunity levels and are, therefore, more prone to illnesses and infections, and their skin is more sensitive as well. Therefore, reaction to colors that one may have is very dangerous. Chemical colors have harmful health effects on the baby through breast milk. 

So, lactating mothers should practice same caution as pregnant women. You can have homemade colors which can be made by using turmeric, roli (sindoor), boiled beetroot and onions. Tradition, if it must be followed, can be respected by placing a sandalwood or saffron tikaa on the baby's forehead. 

Also do apply a thick petroleum jelly moisturizer on the skin and oil on the hair before started playing holi. Washing oneself properly is especially important for lactating mothers who otherwisrisk their baby ingesting colors. 

So, take precautions and enjoy the festival of colors. Happy Holi to all from the Team Mother’s Lap IVF.

Related article Beware of toxic colours this Holi "Dr Shobha Gupta"

These might be the reasons if you can’t get pregnant

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Infertility is complex and stressful experience and going for IVF often causes more stress to women because of fear of conceiving or not. In vitreo fertilization or IVF is a technique use to treat infertility which is widely popular and acceptable now as more and more couples are seeking towards it. Before anything lets know some facts in India about infertility-

• An estimated one in seven couple in India have fertility problems and mostly there is no known medical explanation. 
• It is believed that 10% of the general population suffers from some form of infertility. 
• India has a population of over 1.2 billion, the number of Indians suffering from infertility is huge.
• Of every 100 couples reporting to fertility clinics, 40 per cent are cases of male infertility, 50 per cent are of women, and the remaining 10 per cent of both partners being infertile.

Now these might be the reasons for your infertility, read on:

1. You don’t have enough healthy eggs:

You’re born with a fixed number of eggs but the number and health of your eggs declines as you get older. In fact, a healthy and fertile 30-year-old has only 20 percent chances of getting pregnant each month, according to a report published in American Society for Reproductive Medicine. If you are consuming fertility drugs then number of eggs further decreases.

What to do: Optimizing egg health is a key, so gets to a healthy weight and if you smoke, quit now. Do not consume drugs for egg formation without IUI and IVF. Consult a good fertility centre and try to complete your family before 35 years of age.

2. It’s your partner’s problem:

Male infertility is responsible for up to one-third of infertility cases. If your partner is overweight, alcoholic or a smoker, it could be affecting your chances of getting pregnant. An infection or inflammation of the prostate glands might also be the cause.

 

What to do: Losing weight and quitting smoking are the keys, but it’s also important for your partner to

Some FAQs about Pre-eclampsia

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the kidneys. Pre-eclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in a woman whose blood pressure had been normal. Even a slight rise in blood pressure may be a sign of pre-eclampsia. If left untreated, pre-eclampsia can lead to serious even fatal complications for both you and your baby. 

Here are few common questions asked by patients, please have a look at it for awareness. 

Q.1 How common is pre-eclampsia in Indian women?

Ans. Pre-eclampsia is common in Indian women, affecting between two to eight in 100 women during pregnancy. Around one in 200 women (0.5%) develop severe pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. Stress of metro cities is the major cause.

Q.2 Is the percentage on a rise due to changes in lifestyle?

Ans. Pre-eclampsia is on rise these days, yes lifestyle as we'll as late pregnancies responsible for this. 

Q.3 What are the causes of the increase, if any?

Ans. Mainly lifestyle plays a very important role in it. Obesity, stressed life, diabetes, late age of conception, previous history, family history of hypertension responsible for this. Sudden weight gain, pedal swelling, headache,

Diabetes – A silent killer!

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Today, millions of people are suffering due to diabetes. In the last 4 years percentage of diabetes sufferers has gone up by 30 percent. According to a recent report by IDF- International Diabetes Federation, India continues to be the “diabetes capital” of the world, and by 2030, nearly 9 per cent of the country’s population is likely to be affected from this disease. India accounts for the largest number of people i.e. 50.8 million suffering from diabetes in the world.

This disease is actually